“Goody two shoes”

A child’s fable from the 18^th century extolling hard work and upright behavior in a young orphan girl nick-named “Goody Two-Shoes” gave us the not so complimentary phrase, “goody two shoes.” A person who is self-righteous, who tries hard at piety, fits the description. To our loss, the ideal of virtue has become suspect, one committed to a virtuous life considered somehow a lesser person. The ‘bad boy’ is the character lauded in our pop culture, the one who defies authority is admired. Ask any school boy (or even most grown men) if he wants to be known as ‘good,’ and you will most likely get a strong negative reaction.  “Good” is for wimps; or is it?

Virtue is not simply being a ‘goody two shoes.’ If it is born of fear of criticism or inability to take a risk, it is not true virtue! The Bible teaches us that one of the evidences of the Spirit’s life in a disciple is ‘goodness.’  Both Peter and Paul urge Christians to be virtuous people, people who live with excellence as their guide; practically and personally. Paul urges these traits on those who claim the Name: "true, … noble, … just, … pure, … lovely,  … good report, … virtue and … praiseworthy." (Philippians 4:8, NKJV) While I have no desire to be so void of fire or passion that I am a weak man, insipid, and ineffectual; I want to be known as a good man. Jesus was a man of virtue, yet He was capable of strong emotion, of challenge to those who abused authority, of resisting evil.  Children loved him and moneychangers in the Temple fled His wrath!

A major sickness in America of 2011 is the loss of personal virtue, which produces self-restraint and respect for others. Our radical self-love is destroying the fabric of a nation once lauded by Alexis de Tocqueville in the 18^th century for such virtue that the need for government regulation was reduced to nearly non-existent. When personal virtue is lost, law must attempt to restrain selfish acts. Greed and injustice are unthinkable to the person of virtue, but they are a natural, even laudable, choice in a society where radical individualism and personal happiness trumps all other things.

Virtue is not simply the result of learning civility or even attempting self-discipline. True virtue is made possible by a transformation of the heart by the power of Christ. Faith in Him breaks the power of sin. He gives us the Spirit who subdues our sinful nature and create a hunger for righteousness in us. That righteousness allows us to walk with the broken, the fallen, the debauched, those lost and confused, without adopting their values or being corrupted.  Yes, the virtue created by the Spirit living in us allows us to "become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." (Philippians 2:15, NIV)

So, are you a person of virtue?

Do you fear the label of “goody two-shoes” so much that you will not allow the Spirit of God to develop the beauty of Christ’s holiness in you?

Or, are you hungry for His righteousness, ready to abandon sin and Self, becoming a noble, holy, and good man?

_________________

Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,

King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;

Under the standard exalted and royal,

Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.

Wholehearted! Savior belovèd and glorious,

Take Thy great power and reign Thou alone,

Over our wills and affections victorious—

Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.

Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!

Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;

Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!

King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.

n  Public domain